A Humanitarian Crisis

The world is facing an unprecedented displacement crisis, more than 65 million people are forcibly displaced as a result of violent conflicts and natural disasters.

In 2015, over 1 million people – refugees, displaced persons and other migrants – have made their way to the EU, either escaping conflict in their country and in search of better economic prospects. While the numbers have shown a decreasing trend in 2016, by June around 156 000 people have reached Europe (source: UNHCR).

Many people arrive in the EU after perilous land or sea journeys and require basic humanitarian assistance, such as provision of clean water, health care, emergency shelter and legal aid. Many of these displaced people are children who have special protection needs.

The migration flow is impacting transit countries, such as Turkey, Greece and Libya, sometimes overwhelming national emergency response capacities.

EU countries have shut their doors to the humanitarian crisis, the UK promised it will take more refugees but so far has not done so. It is falling on many small grass roots organisations to pick up what our governments are failing to do.The precise number of refugees spread across the North of France is not known but recent trips to work in La Liniere refugee camp have shown us that refugee numbers are increasing.